Two centuries in succession for Calum MacLeod in January 2014 - a 62-ball 113 against the UAE and 175 against Canada - played a major part in Scotland's qualification for the 2015 World Cup. In many ways MacLeod is a surprising poster boy for Scottish cricket. He has roots in the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, from where his grandfather moved to Glasgow. When he acted as a substitute fielder for England in an Ashes Test in 2009 he became the first Gaelic speaker to appear in a Test.

But his hopes of forging a county career as a fast bowler fell apart in 2009 when his action was reported by the umpires after an Intercontinental Cup match. Remedial work followed, including sessions with the former South Africa quick Allan Donald, then bowling coach at Warwickshire, but he was released by the county in 2010.

But Cricket Scotland had introduced player contracts at the end of 2008, and gradually MacLeod surprised everyone by forcing his way into the side as a batsman. Paul Collingwood, who was added to Scotland's coaching ranks as they qualified for the World Cup, was so impressed that Durham gave him a contract on Collingwood's advice. That was initially just as a T20 player, but MacLeod was swiftly given a permanent contract and ended his first season back in county cricket by winning the Royal London One-Day Cup.
ESPNcricinfo staff